Mail-crane



(No Model.)

E. A. P0

MAIL GR Patented. Sept. 1, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EPI-IRIAM A. FOSTER, PORT CLINTON, OHIO.

MAIL-CRANE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.' 567,088, datedSeptember 1, 1896. Application filed February 25, 1896. Serial No.580,639. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EPHRIAM A. FOSTER, a citizen of the United States,and aresident of Port Clinton, in the county of Ottawa and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Cranes;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

, caught by devices on a mail-car and is drawn into a car.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction ofmail-crane which shall possess superior advantages with respect toefficiency in operation.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of amail-crane constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view of one of the pouch-holding arms, showingthe construc; tion of the catchers or holders.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates a'platform builtalongside a railway-track at any suitable or convenient point, andprovided with the usual steps 2.

The numeral 3 designates a rotatable post or upright, the lower end ofwhich is stepped in a beam 4, and intermediate its ends is journaled bymeans of a bracket 5 to said platform. To the upper end'of said post isfixed a laterally-extending pouch-holdin g arm 6 at a right angle tosaid post. The outer end of this arm is made hollow or recessed and isprovided with a metal sleeve 7. Located in this recess is a pouch-holder8, consisting of a piece of metal bent over upon itself at the center,forming two spring arms 9. This holder is held in place by means of atransverse pin 10, which will allow it to be drawn out a sufficientdistance for the arms 9 to en gage with the ring of a mail-pouch.

The numeral 12 designates the lower pouchholding arm, also provided witha holder 8 similar to that above described. The inner end of this arm isprovided with a sleeve 13, which embraces the post, so that the arm iscapable of sliding up and down. The post on its inner side is rounded,while on its outer side is flat or straight, and upon said inner side Isecure a rubber strip or block 14, which engages with the platform andby frictional contact holds the post in position.

In practice the rings of the mail-pouch are engaged with the holders ofthe pouch-arms, and the downward pressure of the lower arm will hold thepouch in proper position to be caught by the catcher of a mail-car, thusdispensin g with the usual fastenings. When the catcher of the mail-carcomes in contact with the pouch, the latter will commence to 7o doubleup, and at the same time the crane begins to turn, so that the pouch istaken directly and straight out from the ends of the arms instead ofsidewise, as in the ordinary constructions. 7 5

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. In amail-crane, the combination with the platform and the rotatable post orstandard, provided with the rubber strip or block of the upperpouch-holding arm rigidly secured thereto, and the lowervertically-movable arm; substantially as described.

2. In a mail-crane, the combination with the pouch-holding arms, havingrecesses at the outer ends, of the sleeves, the holders consisting ofthe spring-metal plates bent over upon themselves at the center, and thetransverse retaining-pins; substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EPHRIAM A. FOSTER.

Witnesses:

S. H. MIZENER, Soorr STAHL.

